Would my Jack Russell get along well with another dog?

Question

I have a male Jack Russell Terrier. Just like any Jack Russell, he's full of energy and a little troublemaker. I'm thinking about getting another dog, probably a Golden Retriever. I know that Golden Retrievers get along well with other dogs, but I'm not so sure about my JRT. He seems friendly when there's another dog around, but I don't know if that would change if another dog would live with us. Also, he's really, really close to me, and barks when I leave the room and have to leave him there (like locked in the kitchen). He's very, very attached to me.

Answer 1

It's great that you've given your dog a chance to hang out around other dogs to see how he does. I would keep doing that - go to the dog park, visit your friends who have dogs, and try to get an idea about how your dog would do with having another dog around. You'd really want to watch to see if your dog is a resource guarder - many of the terriers will jealously guard their food or toys around another dog.
Turid Rugaas provides a lot of information about canine body language and can teach you how to "read" your dog, so that you can learn to stop any trouble before it gets to be too much (link below). There's a lot of info available online - I've used the info in the articles below to help my dogs get used to each other. Good luck!

Answer 2

Every dog is different but I have seen at least one Jack Russell who made life miserable for a beagle pup. Even when the beagle was bigger than the JRT, he was chased and snarled at.

Dogs which are fine in a neutral place ( like a park) may still not get along with another dog in its own territory.

Before acquiring another dog, I would see how the JRT behaves with another dog in your home or yard. See if a friend with a dog can bring it to your house to check this out.

Answer 3

jrt's are unusual dogs....they usually do not even get along with other JRT's...and frankly most JRT's prefer to be only dogs...i have learned this the hard way...most jrt's want to be the alpha male when they are with other dogs...i have a male JRT/wire haired terrier mix who is about 5 yrs old..we rescued him at about 1 1/2 yrs old and he was a handfull, yet a good dog... we already had a spitz mix we rescued..he was a 12 yr old male, and we got the JRT primarily because my son wanted a Beagle, and the JRT was the closest we could find, without getting a Beagle, which we really did not want !!...the two dogs got used to each other, primarily beause Bear, the spitz mix, was very easy-going and did not need to be top dog, yet, he had his breaking point if Jack, the JRT overdid it, and Bear would let him know, enough already, and Jack would back off !!.. to make a long story short, i believe Jrt's are better as only dogs..the best way to check on this would be to check with some JRT rescue groups...they could better answer your question with more experience, than just my case !!....go to petfinder.com.....this is a site for rescue groups.....just enter your Zip code, and breed wanted, like JRTerrier, and be AMAZED at how many great choices you have !!...you want to use these folks as a resource group, to pick their brains with your particular situation !!...I adopted a Great Pyrenees mix to replace Bear, my spitz, and Sylvester is younger and bigger than Bear was...he's 60 lbs and like 2 yrs old, and pretty playfull...Jack wants to be the Alpha Male and he is, unless he goes too far with Sylvester, and then Sylvester will finally stand up for himself !!... i thought Jack would like a companion when Bear passed, yet i believe my wife was right saying he would rather be the ONLY DOG IN THE HOUSE !!!..the two get along OK, yet Jack has to be the top banana, for it to work, and Sylvester is OK with that most of the time !!...here is the dangerous part...my step-son came over with his male full blooded Great Pyrenees who is 35" tall when standing, and only weighs 105 lbs., very slender for a huge GP..and Jack tried to DOMINATE Oso, the GP, and backed Oso into a corner and was going for his throat, to dominate him, and Oso felt threatened, and i pulled Jack out of there, in a split second, or Oso would have broke him in half, and rightfully so!! Jack weighs 27 lbs and should not have been challenging Oso, who had been here several times before, yet Jack almost could have been killed or maimed by the GP who felt threatened, and did not understand Jack's motive !! this is an example of their need to dominate and be the top dog !! so, my best advise to you, is hold off on the GR, and check with some JRT rescue groups for their advise on this matter, before you bring another dog into the picture, even though your motive is good !! ..if i can be of further help..email me...best of luck to you !!!

Answer 4

Get a dog of the opposite sex and I'm sure it would be okay.

Get a dog of opposite sex and same breed and I am sure the dog will be over the moon.

Answer 5

i have a female rat terrier. she is attached to me like you wouldnt believe but i got a female papillon and they get along great. just introduce them and spend time with them you will know.

i got her for my rat terrier because sometimes i would leave and she has got seperation anxiety so i got diamond and she keeps her company and they learn to get along with each other. jus tbe careful of the breed you pick.